Argentina’s coaches adopt stranded badminton rival

After her coaches failed to make it to Buenos Aires, Dominican Republic’s badminton representative Nairoby Abigail Jimenez received help from Argentina’s technical team, which has taken her under their wing in the women’s singles tournament.

Badminton player Nairoby Abigail Jimenez and her support team had their luggage packed and ready, but only the athlete arrived at their destination.

Her coach and the rest of the work team had problems with their airplane tickets and could not make it to Buenos Aires, where Jimenez is representing the Dominican Republic in the badminton tournament at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Hearing of Jimenez’s plight, the coach of Argentina’s badminton team Martin Trejo stepped in. He and his colleagues volunteered to work with Jimenez during her time at Buenos Aires 2018. "The Dominican Republic federation contacted the Argentine federation and they asked me if I could help her in the tournament, and I gladly accepted," Trejo said. "You have to be supportive when another country needs help.

"I have the time and I’m happy to do it, so I'll help her as much as I can," said the Argentine coach, who already knew Jimenez from the Badminton World Federation circuit.

Although Jimenez failed to advance from the group round in the singles tournament, she is still in the hunt for medals in the relay team event.